Jo-Marie Burt has been writing about the latest on whether José Efraín Ríos Montt will face trial in relation to the 1982 Dos Erres massacre, in which an elite unit of the Guatemalan army known as Kaibiles slaughtered over 200 people, more than half of whom were children.
Last November, his lawyers sought to have the charges dismissed, arguing that their client was mentally incompetent. The judge rejected the request though did not rule on whether he would be prosecuted under special security provisions, not requiring the defendant be present and to stop the public viewing proceedings.
Rumours had been circulating that Ríos Montt had died and these were found to be untrue.
If the judge were to call for the special provisions, his daughter and son would attend on his behalf. However, they have granted legal representation to their lawyers so presumably they would not have to attend.
However, the judge decided that she could not make a ruling at this stage as there were outstanding issues to be cleared up and rescheduled for the 31st March.
Ríos Montt also faces charges in the Maya Ixil genocide case under these special provisions, but the case remains stalled.
You can read the full details on the International Justice Monitor website here and here.
Categories: Genocide, Guatemala, Human Rights, Indigenous peoples, Justice, Legal, Rios Montt
Guatemala Solidarity Network 
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